Sugar Champ Entitled To Title

Miami Or Alabama-but A&m May Yap

NEW ORLEANS — In other sports, the final meal is served at a more digestible pace. The World Series has its seven games, the NCAA basketball tournament is spread over three weekends.

Then there's college football, where they bring the entire smorgasbord-the hungry-heifer special-to the television tray. Once again, Jan. 1 will be high in cholesterol for the eyes, and even more so for those who make regular runs to the refrigerator.

It's the mother lode of football, with eight bowl games filling up the networks and cable. For most, the action starts before the first aspirin is taken, with Boston College against Tennessee in the Hall of Fame Bowl at 10 a.m. Good morning, and should the Volunteers punt on fourth down?

Most of the afternoon will feature three games going on at the same time; those with quick remotes, be advised. The most interesting contests will be the Cotton Bowl, where No. 3 Texas A&M tries to earn national respect by beating fifth-rated Notre Dame, and the Rose Bowl, in which Michigan will try to prevent Washington from an unprecedented third straight victory.

The best, though, is saved for last at the Sugar Bowl. No. 1 Miami meets No. 2 Alabama, with the winner almost certainly receiving the national championship.

Texas A&M might dispute that claim if it beats Notre Dame and goes to 13-0. However, the Aggies' only real chance is if the Sugar Bowl ends in a tie, which is unlikely.

"It's the Super Bowl of college football," said Miami coach Dennis Erickson of his stay in New Orleans.

It has had Super Bowl hype, and for once, justifiably so. Miami (11-0) is the defending Associated Press national champion and owns a 29-game winning streak. Alabama (12-0) has restored the pride of Paul "Bear" Bryant and comes in with a 22-game winning streak.

This is the first time the nation's top two teams have met in a bowl game since the 1988 Orange Bowl, when No. 2 Miami beat No. 1 Oklahoma.

Alabama wants to continue recent history. In the last four bowls featuring the top-ranked teams, No. 2 has tried harder and won.

"We might be David (as in Goliath)," said Alabama quarterback Jay Barker. "But you know who came out better in the end."

David, though, wasn't an eight-point underdog, as Alabama is, and Barker's arm hardly rates as a slingshot. Instead, Alabama has won with the nation's No. 1-ranked defense, which sometimes becomes an offense.

Crimson Tide cornerback Antonio Langham has returned an interception for a touchdown in each of his last three games. Defensive end John Copeland says the unit must come up with at least a touchdown for Alabama to win, which could be viewed as a backhanded indictment of the offense.

Copeland and fellow defensive end Eric Curry will be the keys for Alabama. Both will go from Friday's game to being probable top-five picks in the pro draft.

Miami's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Gino Torretta, knows that Curry and Copeland will be aiming for him.

"I don't fear anyone on the field," said Torretta. "I've been hit as hard as anyone and gotten up more often than not."

"I'll put fear in him," Curry said. "It's an extra motivation for any player to play against a Heisman Trophy winner. He's got a quick release, so we'll have to get to him quick."

Miami will try to negate Alabama's rush by using short, quick passes. Florida had great success with that tactic in the Southeastern Conference title game, though it lost 28-21.

"We throw the ball," Torretta said. "Florida has some good plays, but they didn't move the ball consistently like we'll have to in the Sugar Bowl."

Alabama, meanwhile, will have its hands full with Miami's defense. If the Crimson Tide has the best defensive ends, Miami has the best linebackers in Micheal Barrow, Jessie Armstead and Darrin Smith.

The Hurricanes also have an excellent line and secondary. Miami plans to stack the line and dare Barker, a sophomore, to throw. But Barker figures to rattle more easily than Torretta.

"I think stopping the run is the key," Barrow said. "Second and long is to our advantage. If we make them pass, we'll have the advantage and be able to win."

With Bryant and his six national championships, Alabama has the more storied long-term history. But a Miami victory will close out an unprecedented 10-year run.

Miami, which won its first title in 1983, is trying to become the first team to win five national championships in 10 years. The Hurricanes also would be the first team to repeat as national champions since Alabama in 1978-79, and the first to post perfect back-to-back title seasons since Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma teams in 1955 and 1956.

"This game can set us apart," Torretta said. "It can put us on a different level than other programs."

The Sugar Bowl figures to end past 11 p.m. That's a 13-hour-plus binge.

For those still hungry, or crazy, the season doesn't even end Friday. North Carolina meets Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl on Saturday.